Budget For John’s Mates Not Your Mates

John Key is spending more time
looking after vested interests than the interests of
hard-working New Zealanders who aren’t able to get ahead
under National, says Labour Leader David Shearer.

“There
will be something missing from next week’s Budget –
people. You’ll hear lots about glossy business growth
agendas and progress reports. But there’ll be nothing in
it to help people find decent jobs, buy a house, pay their
bills or to stop them moving to Australia.

“This will be
a Budget for the boardroom, not the smoko room. It won’t
change people’s lives because John Key is more interested
in looking after his mates than your mates.

“This
Government has made promise after promise in Budget after
Budget. But it hasn’t delivered. It has let New Zealanders
down.

“It promised 170,000 more jobs. But in the last
year there were 30,000 fewer. It promised to help the
‘growing underclass’ but there are now almost 24,000
more people on benefits and 21% of our kids are living in
poverty. There are 163,000 New Zealanders who are
unemployed. Where is the brighter future?

“The
differences between John Key’s National Government and the
Labour Government that I will lead are now crystal clear.

“Labour will put people at the heart of everything it
does. National has forgotten the hardworking people who are
the backbone of this country.

“Labour is prepared to
use the power only a Government has to make a real
difference to people’s lives – like bringing down power
bills and building affordable homes.

“John Key won’t.
He’s too focused on share floats to care about the Kiwis
working their guts out to make ends meet.

“Labour has
the courage to make the big changes that National is afraid
to make – changes that will transform the economy for
everyone.

“Labour will create a fairer and more equal
society. Under National, income inequality is the highest
since records began.

“As Prime Minister, I want to
create and build – not just trade and sell. I will back
New Zealanders who are doing their bit so that we can build
a country we can all be proud of,” said David
Shearer.

David Shearer's Speech:

Putting People
First

A few weeks ago a woman contacted me asking
for help.

She and her partner both have jobs. They pay
their bills. They keep up with the mortgage and are raising
four children.

But they’re struggling to get by from
week to week.

She told me their situation is desperate.
Her partner even went to Christchurch to try and earn a bit
more.

Just the other week their car needed four new tyres
to pass the warrant.

That used up the little savings they
had and they had to borrow from a friend.

She said “we
feel like bad role models for our children because we are
constantly struggling”.

But from what she told me,
they’re as good a role model as anyone.

They have my
utmost respect.

But it’s not right and it’s not fair
that it’s so hard to raise a family here.

She’s been
let down and left behind by this Government.

John Key
isn’t interested in the problems faced by hardworking
families like hers.

He’s too focused on share-floats to
care about the Kiwis working their guts out to make ends
meet.

He’s more focused on his mates than your mates.

So it’ll be no surprise to you that when Bill English
delivers his fifth Budget next week, there will be something
missing.

People.

You’ll hear a lot about glossy
business growth agendas and progress reports.

But there
won’t be anything to help you find a job – or get a
better job. To help you buy a house, to help you pay your
bills or to stop your family moving to Australia.

Because
that is this Government’s record.

This government makes
promise after promise in Budget after Budget.

But it
hasn’t delivered.

So why would you believe them this
year?

Let’s take a look at their scorecard.

John Key
promised he’d give Kiwis a reason to stay.

But as of
last week, 200,000 people have left for Australia since he
came to power.

At the last election, he promised 170,000
jobs. But in the last year there were 30,000 fewer.

There
are now more than 163,000 New Zealanders unemployed.

In
Budget 2010, they promised higher incomes. But since John
Key’s been in office rising prices have outstripped pay
packets.

In 2007, he promised to help our “growing
underclass”. But income inequality in New Zealand is now
the highest since records began.

There are now almost
24,000 more people on benefits and 21% of our kids live in
poverty.

Under his watch, the gap between the top 10% and
the rest of New Zealand is widening faster.

He promised
to close the wage gap with Australia too, but New Zealanders
are now earning an average of $58 a week less than their
neighbours across the Tasman.

In the 2010 Budget, he
promised a step-change in the economy. Instead, he has
delivered a step-back for many.

John Key once said he was
ambitious for New Zealand. I haven’t heard that for a
while. The only thing he’s ambitious about now is his
excuses.

You’ll have heard yesterday that he’s
certainly not ambitious for Wellington – in fact he’s
already signed its death warrant.

Talk about absolutely
negatively John Key!

This Budget won’t change your
life.

It’s a Budget for the boardroom, not the smoko
room.

This National Government spends more time looking
after vested interests than your interests.

It’s too
busy doing back-room deals with gambling houses and movie
giants to make sure hard-working New Zealanders have the
wages they need to live on.

Too busy protecting the
super-profits of power companies to worry about bringing
your power bills down.

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